Edinburgh Mardi Gras

Scotland's largest animal collection
is 4 1/2 km (3 miles) west of
Edinburgh's city center on 32
hectares (80 acres) of hillside
parkland offering unrivaled views
from the Pentlands to the Firth of
Forth. Run by the Royal Zoological
Society of Scotland, the zoo
emphasizes its role in the wildlife
conservation (naturally), although
recent attempts to get a breeding
pair of pandas out of China seemed
to have more to do with luring
visitors. Still, the zoo contains
more than 1,500 animals, including
white rhinos, pygmy hippos, and
others. It also boasts the largest
penguin colony in Europe housed in
the world's largest penguin
enclosure. From April to September,
a penguin parade is held daily at
2:15pm.

Scotland's largest animal collection
is 4 1/2 km (3 miles) west of
Edinburgh's city center on 32
hectares (80 acres) of hillside
parkland offering unrivaled views
from the Pentlands to the Firth of
Forth. Run by the Royal Zoological
Society of Scotland, the zoo
emphasizes its role in the wildlife
conservation (naturally), although
recent attempts to get a breeding
pair of pandas out of China seemed
to have more to do with luring
visitors. Still, the zoo contains
more than 1,500 animals, including
white rhinos, pygmy hippos, and
others. It also boasts the largest
penguin colony in Europe housed in
the world's largest penguin
enclosure. From April to September,
a penguin parade is held daily at
2:15pm.